Lifeboat propelling mechanism



Nov. 9, 1937. c. w. ALLEN 2,098,606

LIFEBOAT PROPELLING MECHANISM K Filed Feb. 24, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet l I00. P Il I I 1S 65.1. magy/WOR.

'11? E BY v ATTORNEY;

Nov.- 9, 1937. Q W, ALLEN 2,098,606

LIFEBOAT PROPELLING MCHANISM Filed Feb. 24, 1936 s sheets-sneekI 2' ATTORNEY.

Nov. 9, 1937.

C. W. ALLEN LIFEBOAT PROPELLING MEGHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb.24, 1936 INVENTOR. m/fm ATTORNEY.

Patented Nov. 9, 1937 Ui'i'ED STATES weer PATENT orifice 6 Claims.

This invention relates to life-boats and particularly to a propellingmechanism therefor, the present invention being a continuation in partof my co-pending application entitled Propelling mechanism filedNovember 28th,

1934, Serial Number 755,190.

The object of the present invention is generally to improve and simplifythe construction and operation of propelling mechanisms of the characterdescribed; to provide a driving mechanism for actuating the propellingmechanism which may be attached to the seats of a boat Without changingor re-arranging the seats or the air tanks placed alongside or under theseats; to provide a driving mechanism which can not be blocked ordisabled by the action of ice and frost, etc.; to provide a drivingmechanism which will avoid the transmission of strain to the bottom ofthe boat and thereby tend to strain or open the seams; to provide adriving mechanism which extends substantially throughout the length ofthe boat and Which is so arranged in position that three rows of peoplecan conveniently and efciently actuate the same, in fact, permit atleast double the number of people in the boat to be actively engaged inthe propulsion of the boat when comparison is made with oars; to providea combination propelling and driving mechanism which is capable of be-30 ing set at neutral, ahead, or reverse; and, further, to provide asingle lever control within convenient reach of the ofcer in charge ofthe boat for actuating the setting mechanism for neutral, ahead, orreverse.

The invention is shown by way of illustration in the accompanyingdrawings, in which- Fig. l is an enlarged longitudinal vertical sectionof a portion of the boat, said section showing the propelling mechanismand the driving mechanism whereby it is actuated;

Fig. 2 is a cross section taken on line II--II of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a cross section taken on line III-III of Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is a cross section taken on line IV-IV of Fig. l;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged longitudinal section of the propelling mechanismand the mechanismwhereby ahead drive, neutral or reverse is attained;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the life-boat showing the installation of thedriving and propelling mechanism;

Fig. '7 is a perspective diagrammatic view showing the manner in whichthe driving mechanism and the propelling mechanism are connected.

Referring to the drawings in detail, and particularly Figs. l and 6, Aindicates a life-boat of standard construction and B the seats extendingcrosswise thereof. The seats serve two functions, first that of seatingthe crew and passengers, and secondly, that of a support for the drivingmechanism generally indicated at C.

The driving mechanism consists of a pair of rods 2 and 2a which extendlongitudinally of the boat and which are spaced apart a sufficientdistance to permit one person on each set to sit between the rods. Therods are provided with a series of handles 3 and 3a by which the rodsare grasped when the boat is to be propelled and the rods are guided andsupported in eye bolts 4 and 5 secured to the respective seats.

In addition to the driving mechanism, a pro# pelling mechanism isemployed. This mechanisrn is mounted Within the housing D. Suitablysecured in the boat and adjacent the rear end thereof a shaft 6 isjournaled in and extends through the rear end of the housing and isconnected through a universal joint, or the like, 1 with a propellershaft 8 which extends through a stern bearing and carries a suitabletype of propeller 9. The propelling mechanism is carried by the shaft Sand is disposed within and completely enclosed by the housing D. Thepropelling mechanism is identical to the propelling mechanism disclosedin my copending application with the exception, to wit, the propellingmechanism here disclosed is provided with means for setting it inneutral or reverse in addition to the `ahead drive; a reverse andneutral being an essential feature of a life-boat drive.

In order'that the neutral and reverse action can be clearly understood abrief description of the propelling mechanism will be submitted.Referring to Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, it will be noted that the shaft 6carried two drums I0 and Il. These drums are placed end for endlongitudinally of the shaft and are separated by a disc I2, which iskeyed to the shaft so as to rotate in unison therewith. Formed on theends of the drum adjacent the disc l2 are ratchet gears i3 and pivotallymounted on each side of the disc and adapted to engage the ratchet gearsare pawls I4, see Fig. 2. Surrounding the disc is a ringl and extendinginwardly from said ring and into slots formed in the disc l2 are a pairof cam members l'l and I3. The exterior surface of the ring I6 isprovided with a pair of annular flanges forming a groove I9 in thecenter of which extends a fork 2li of a shaft rod 2|, said rod beingconnected at one end with a lever 22 whereby the ring may be shiftedlaterally of the disc I2. Cams I'I and I8 are so shaped that duringlateral movement thereof in one direction rocker extensions 23 on therespective pawls will be engaged by the cams and both pairs of pawls onopposite sides of the disc I2 will be lifted free of the ratchet gearsand the propelling mechanism will assume a neutral position.

If the ring I6 and the cams I'I and I8 assume the position shown in Fig.5, onlyone pawl of each pair will be engaged and held free of thecooperating ratchet gear, as plainly shown in Fig.

2, hence if the drums I and II are rotated' a -I` drive will betransmitted from the ratchet gears in one direction will be transmittedfrom shaft 6 to the propeller shaft 8. On the other hand, if theshifting ring and the cams I'I and I8 are moved to a position oppositeto that shown in Fig. the pawls, which previously engaged the ratchetgears, will be released and will be pressed into engagement with theirrespective ratchet gears by means of the spring 24 and the pawls whichpreviously engaged, will be raised to disengage the ratchet gears.Hence, during rotation of the drums I8 and II rotary motion will betransmitted to the disc I2 and the shafts 6 and 8 in a reverse directionand when ring I6 and the cams I'I and I8 are moved at a midway positionneutral will be attained, as all the pawls will be held out ofengagement. Lever 22 carries a pawl 25 which cooperates with the notchedsegment or leg 26. Lever 22 is also provided with a hand grip which isconnected with the pawl 25 and lever 22 may thus be swung about itspivot and secured in anyvone of the three notches shown, notch 26 beingthe one engaged when an ahead drive is desired. The middle notch isengaged when neutral position is assumed and the notch 21 when reverseis desired.

When the driving mechanism is in operation rods 2 and 2a will bereciprooated in opposition to each other and means are provided fortransmitting the reciprocal motion of the rods to rotate the drums Illand I I in opposite directions. This is accomplished as follows.

Formed on the exterior surface of each drum is a helical groove 29. Thegroove on the drum I!! is pitched in one direction and the groove on thedrum II in the opposite direction as clearly shown in Fig. 5. A pair ofcables 30 and 3| are anchored at one end, as shown at 32 and 33, to theeye bolts indicated at 5. These cables pass over pulleys 34 secured tothe respective rods 2 and 22L and then over guide pulleys 35 securedunder the seat. The opposite end of cable 3I is suitably secured to thedrum and wound around the helical groove formed on the surface of thedrum I8 and then around and anchored thereto. Cable38 is similarly woundaround the groove formed in the exterior of the drum II and alsoanchored. The second cable is passed over an idler pulley 38 and the twoends, indicated at 3l and 38, are wound around the respective drums andanchored thereto. The windings of the cables. 3l and 38 occupy the innerhali` of each drum and the windings of the cables 3!) and 3l occupy theouter half of each drum. It should also be Vnoted that the cables 3'Iand 38 are wound in one direction about the respective drums and so arethe cables 3l! and 3| but in a direction opposite to the cables 3l and38; but in view of the factthat the pitch of the helical grooves on therespective drums is in opposition to each other the cables 3!! and 3lwill transmit a reverse motion to each other and thereby cause one drumto rotate in one direction and the other drum to rotate in the oppositedirection when a reciprocal movement is transmitted thereto from thedriving rods 2 and 2a. A fourth cable is shown at it in Fig. 7. Thispasses over guide pulleys 4I secured on an adjacent scat and the ends ofthe cable are anchored to the respective rods, as shown at 42. Thiscable attachment is essential as it insures reciprocal movement. of therods 2 and 2a in opposition to each other and in uni- 'so`n, and it isalso essential for the simple reason that the power transmitted to therods through the crew or passengers pulling thereon is alternatelytransmitted through the cable 4f) to one rod or another and the cables3@ and 3I connected therewith to rotate whichever drum happens to be thedriving drum. For instance, if rod 2 is being pulled in the direction ofarrow a, see Fig. '"7, rod 2a will be traveling in the reversedirection, orthat indicated by arrow b. That is, the crew or passengerson one side will be pulling on the rod 2, while they will be pushing onthe rod 2a, but the push exerted on the rod 2a will be exerted as a pullon the rod 2 as motion is transmitted to the rod 2 from the rod 2athrough the cable et, hence all combined power or effort applied to therods is transmitted alternately from one rod to the other and the rod towhich the power is transmitted is in turn submitted to the drum which istransmitting the drive.

In view of the fact that the rods 2 and 2a are supported and guided bythe eye bolts 5 only l means must be provided for preventing rotation 3'less than a continuation of the brackets supporting the pulleys 3ft butinasmuch as they straddle or engage the rods 45 disposed below theseats, rotation of the rods 2 and 2a is prevented. The ends of the rodsextend beyond both the bow and the stern seat and they may be passedeither underand over the same. In Fig. 1 an offset is shown in the rods,as indicated at 2b. Where said rods pass beneath the stern seat 58 aneye bolt 5,! `is provided to guide the end of the rod, the'constructionbeing the same as far as thc bow seat is concerned. On the other hand ifit is desirable to bring the rod over the seat the eye bolt may beplaced on tcp as shown by dotted lines. The rod may be extendedtherethrough,

asshown by dotted lines in Fig. l, the saine being true of the bow seat.

fInfactual practice when a life-boat is filled with crew and passengersone person on each seat willsit between the rods and one person will siton the outer side of each rod; thus, there are three rows of peopleengaged in the propulsion of the boat. The center row of individualswill grasp the upright portions of the handles, indicated at 3, whilethe rows of individuals sitting outside of the rods, or between thegunwales and the rods, will grasp the horizontally extending handlesections 3a. With the number ofhandles here shown, it is possible fortwentyone people to be actively engaged in the propulsion of the boat.The boat shown is a six seater and could not use more than twelve oars.Where oars are employed they would be limited to twelve men rowing butwith the driving mechanism here shown practically twice the number canbe employed and obviously the exertion need not be as great. Peoplerowing, whether it be crew or passengers, may face either forward orrearwardly, this making no difference in view of the fact that when theygrasp the handle they are pulling when the rods are traveling in onedirection and they ar-e pushing when the rods are traveling in theopposite direction.

The propelling mechanism being completely enclosed by the housing B isalways safe against the entrance of rain or water as it is tight and, infact, may be partially filled with lubricant; hence any danger offreezing or blocking the propelling mechanism is entirely avoided. Onthe other hand, the driving mechanism, to wit, the rods and the cablesconnected therewith may be covered with spray during cold weather and assuch will freeze up but if they are frozen up and it is necessary to usethe boats the ice, which is formed between the rods and the eye bolts,can be almost instantly released by merely tapping the rods and pulleys.That is, a certain amount of play is 4provided between the rods and theeye bolts, hence a slight shock or tap of any nature, even with thehand, is suiiicient to break any ice formation and if any ice is left itWill merely function as a lubricant, hence any freezing up or blockingof the mechanism which would permanently or even temporarily hinderoperation can be quickly eliminated.

Another feature which is important and should be noted is the fact thatthe driving mechanism is placed and secured on top of the seats and assuch permits an installation of this character to be placed in anystandard life-boat Without any change to the seats or the air tanksplaced under the seats or alongside the same. Also all strains arecarried by the seats and transmitted to the sides of the boat, hencedanger of straining and opening the seams in the bottom of the boat isentirely avoided.

While this and other features of the present invention are more or lessspecifically described, l wish it understood that various changes may beresorted to within the scope of the appended claims. Similarly, that thematerials and iinish of the several parts employed may be such as themanufacturer may decide, or varying conditions or uses may demand.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent iszl. A ,boat propelling device comprising reciprocablerods, supports for said rods iixed relative to said boat, cablesoperated by said rods, a plurality of handles on said rods, bracketsfixed to said rods, .guide pulleys for said cables rotatably mounted insaid brackets, a guide rod fixed relative to said boat, and means onsaid brackets slidable on said guide rods whereby turning of saidreciprocable rods is prevented.

2. In a propelling mechanism for a boat having thwarts, a powertransmission device adapted to be secured in the boat and having apropeller shaft and motion transmitting connections geared thereto,including a pair of cables, a driving mechanism for exerting areciprocal movement to said cables, said mechanism comprising a pair ofreciprocal rods extending longitudinally substantially amidship of theboat and connected one with each cable, guide members for saidreciprocal rods supported on said thwarts, a plurality of handles oneach rod whereby the rods are grasped to exert an alternate push andpull to the rods to reciprocate the rods and connected cables, a cableconnected at opposite ends of the rods, guide pulleys supported by saidthwarts over which the intermediate portion of. said cable travels toinsure movement of the rods in opposition to each other whenreciprocated, stationary guide rods mounted in the boat, a pair ofbrackets iixed one to each reciprocable rod and slidable on saidstationary guide rods, said brackets supporting cable guide pulleys andcarrying attaching means for said guide cable.

3. In a propelling mechanism for a boat having thwarts, a powertransmission device adapted to be secured in the boat and having apropeller shaft and motion transmitting connections geared thereto,including a pair of cables, a driving mechanism for exerting areciprocal movement to said cables, said mechanism comprising a pair ofreciprocal rods extending longitudinally substantially amidship of theboat and connected one with each cable, guide members for saidreciprocal rods supported by said thwarts, a plurality of handles oneach rod whereby the rods are grasped t exert an alternate push and pullto the rods to reciprocate the rods and connected cables, a cableconnected at opposite ends of the rods, guide pulleys supported by saidthwarts over which the intermediate portion of said cable travels toinsure movement of the rods in opposition to each other whenreciprocated, a guide rod fixed to each iirst-named rod and offset withrelation thereto, and fixed guide members in the boat in which the guiderods are guided to prevent axial rotation of the first-named rods.

4. In a life boat propelling device, a pair of reciprocal rods, means onthe thwarts of the boat forming supports and guides for s-aid rods, apair of cables attached at one end to a fixed support and at theopposite ends to a propelling mechanism, a pulley carried by each rodover which the respective cables pass whereby when the rods arereciprocated a pull is alternately exerted on each cable, and handles onthe respective rods to impart reciprocal movement to the rods.

5. A boat propelling device comprising reciprocable rods, supports forsaid rods xed relative to the boat, a plurality of handles on each rodto impart reciprocal movement thereto, a bracket on each rod, a pulleyjournaled in each bracket, and a pair of cables xed at one end, saidcables passing over the pulleys and returning back upon themselves andhaving their opposite ends attached to a propelling mechanism.

6. A boat propelling device comprising reciprocable rods, supports forsaid rods fixed relative to the boat, a plurality of handles on each rodto impart reciprocal movement thereto, a bracket on each rod, a pulleyjournaled in each bracket, a pair of cables xed at one end, said cablespassing over the pulleys and returning back upon themselves and havingtheir opposite ends attached to a propelling mechanism, a guide rodfixed to each first-named rod and offset with relation thereto, andfixed guide members in the boat in which the guide rods are guided toprevent axial rotation of the first-named rods.

CLARENCE W. ALLEN.

